Established in the region for more than 30 years Al Busaidy Mansoor Jamal & Co is the most highly regarded local firm in Oman. For peers, the practice's success derives from one source Mansoor Jamal Malik....
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Established in the region for more than 30 years Al Busaidy Mansoor Jamal & Co is the most highly regarded local firm in Oman. For peers, the practice's success derives from one source Mansoor Jamal Malik. "If we're conflicted I always recommend Mansoor because he has been in the market place a very long time. He is the absolute lynchpin of that practise," says one.
Similarly, clients say Malik's expertise in the country is unsurpassed by any other lawyer. "I think in Mansoor they've got the most experienced attorney in Oman, certainly the most well connected. He's got the best feel for the practical application for the law here. And given the extent of his experience and the people he knows and what he's seen - it's fair to say that among the Omani practitioners he's the most valuable person to have at the table," is one client's reference.
Competitors and clients say there is gulf in quality and expertise between Malik and his associates but insist that the firm's other lawyers are diligent and industrious. "There's a fair bit of daylight between him and the rest of the firm. Although, he has collected a fairly good team of ex-patriot attorneys, who have now been there - most of them - for several years, so they're pretty effective as well," says one client, adding: "I dropped an email about labour this morning to Rory Gilchrist [an associate] and he responded in 20 minutes. We can do that kind of thing and they won't bill us for the four units it took to think about it."
A further mark of the firm's quality, according to clients, is magic circle firms in the region will seek it's advice. "I do know that all the big players in Dubai – Cliffords, Linklaters - they're all happy to deal with Mansoor as local council," says one.
The firm has good proportion of market share demonstrated by its role in a number of major deals across financial and corporate work.
On the project side, as local council to the sponsors, the firm led by Malik advised on the financing for two 650MW independent power projects: the Barka power and desalination III project and the Sohar power II project, in September 2010.
A further project finance deal saw Malek active for Octal Petrochemicals on the $562 million financing for Phase II expansion of its manufacturing facility in Salalah. One of the largest deals in 2010, it was completed by a syndicate of local Omani banks.
Capital markets have also proven an active area for the firm and it closed Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company's $473 million IPO.
On the debt side the firm acted for MB Holding, an multinational Omani holding company, in connection with it's debut $320 million international high-yield bond issue.
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